Beyond the Basics: Why a Dental Membership Plan Alone Isn't Enough for Success

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Most dental practices and groups struggle with unpredictable revenue — too much reliance on low-paying insurance plans, high patient churn, and operational gaps that leak revenue daily.

The result?

Even practices with full schedules fall short of revenue potential.

Dental membership plans empower care decisions, delivering more predictability and control by simplifying access to care and encouraging patients to visit regularly and accept treatment.

While the benefits of a membership plan are evident, its success is not a given. As detailed in the ebook The Membership Effect: Uncovering the Impact of Membership Plans on Practice Revenue and Patient Behavior, a comprehensive strategy and the right partner are pivotal. A partner that prioritizes key areas like data analysis, expert support, technology, and robust compliance is indispensable for the success of a membership plan. They function as an extension of your team, offering the necessary support and consultation to enhance plan performance based on key metrics like retention and cancellations.

The data in the ebook demonstrates the transformative potential of memberships. It compares cash-pay patients two years before joining a Kleer and Membersy membership plan to the same patients two years later, revealing significant patient behavior and revenue shifts that can inspire a positive change in your group or practice.

Patients on a membership plan visit their dentist twice as often as cash pay patients. Increased frequency is crucial for preventative care and early detection.
Uninsured patients complete 2.4 procedures/year compared to membership plan patients who complete 5.9

As a result, the financial impact is substantial. Uninsured patients generate $469 annually, while membership plan patients generate $1276 per year. Practices that we work with saw a 51% increase in cash production in two years post-implementation. In contrast, insurance production only grew by 10%, underscoring the financial impact of cash-pay patients facilitated by memberships.

And beyond serving existing patients, membership plans attract new ones, with new cash patients increasing by 135% in just two years post-implementation.

The numbers speak for themselves: Patients enrolled in membership plans are more engaged and loyal. This loyalty translates to increased value for a practice’s growth and profitability.

Maximize retention and revenue

Achieving these results relies on a partner that acts as an extension of your team. This includes support and consultation to optimize plan performance based on key metrics like retention and cancellations. Robust training resources are also essential, helping groups and practices manage membership plans effectively despite turnover.

An effective membership plan platform should also:

Automate time-consuming administrative tasks like enrolling and renewing patients
Integrate with practice management systems to post subscription payments and track benefit utilization
Offer valuable insights through real-time dashboards for performance and ROI analytics
Provide built-in marketing tools, like brochures and digital materials, to help promote the plan effectively

Finally, regulatory compliance for your dental membership plan is not merely a legal checkbox but fundamental to its long-term success and sustainability. Navigating the unique laws in each state requires expertise. Prioritizing compliance builds trust, ensures stability, and protects all stakeholders involved – practices, patients, and the provider.

Unlocking the full potential of membership plans, attracting and retaining cash-pay patients, and driving predictable revenue requires more than just the plan itself. It demands a strategic partnership backed by proven data, dedicated support, advanced technology, and an unwavering commitment to compliance.

Ready to dive deeper into how a comprehensive membership strategy, supported by data and expert partnership, can transform your practice? Access the full ebook, The Membership Effect: Uncovering the Impact of Membership Plans on Practice Revenue and Patient Behavior, to explore the detailed data, key strategies, and proven results that can help your practice thrive.

Written by Ed Kaighn. Ed is the Chief Revenue Officer at Kleer and Membersy